New York, New York (Multi-Day Tour)
This tour can be combined with Gettysburg, Lancaster County and Philadelphia travel packages
Tour package includes educational Step-On-Guides

Immerse yourself in New York City for five minutes and you’ll see why it’s like no other place on earth. Only here will you find all of America’s attributes – the diversity, the culture, the style – intensified in such an intriguing way.  And only here will you experience those sublime moments that New York City is famous for.  With 8.2 million residents and a land area of 321 square miles, New York City has the highest population density of any major city in North America.  The city's metropolitan area, with a population of 19 million, ranks among the largest urban areas in the world.  New York City has been a dominant global financial center since World War II.  It is also the birthplace of many American cultural movements including the Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art, abstract expressionism in painting and hip hop in music.  The city's cultural vitality has been fueled by immigration since its founding by Dutch colonists in 1625.  Its business, finance, trading, law and media organizations are influential around the globe.  The city also is one of the world's most important cultural centers with hundreds of museums, galleries and performance venues.  Home of the United Nations, the city is also one of the world's major venues for international diplomacy.

New York is more than a city of bright lights and skyscrapers.  It’s more than the subway or the bridges.  It’s a city of people, of culture, of educational experiences found nowhere else in the world.  In fact, all of New York is bustling with history and culture for students to explore and experience.  It has been called a city of eight million stories, and it is waiting to inspire and educate your students.

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & IMAX THEATRE

Nothing rivals the range of offerings at the largest and most innovative natural history museum – from dinosaurs to IMAX films, not to mention the thrilling new Space Show in the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, one of the world's most powerful virtual reality simulators.  Permanent exhibits include the famous dinosaur halls, Akeley Hall of African Mammals, Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, the Milstein Hall of Ocean life, the Arthur Rose Hall of Meteorites and the Hall of Human Origins.

From the day the American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869, education has been central to its mission.  With dynamic on-site programs and the efforts of the National Center for Science Literacy, Education and Technology, the Museum is dramatically expanding its leadership and impact in fostering universal science literacy.  In a world increasingly shaped by technology and science, the Museum recognizes that students must have access to scientific knowledge in order to be full participants in the 21st century.  The Museum's scientific research, exhibitions and collections can make the life, Earth, physical and social sciences come alive for your students.  All-inclusive packages with guided tours and lunch at the Museum can be tailor-made for your group.

APOLLO THEATRE

The world famous Apollo Theater is so much more than an historic landmark.  It is a source of pride and a symbol of the brilliance of American artistic accomplishment.  With its rich history and continued significance, the Apollo Theater, considered the bastion of African-American culture and achievement, is one of the most fascinating chronicles in American history.  The legendary venue has launched the careers of icons such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Lauryn Hill and continues to maintain its position as the nation's most popular arena for emerging and established African-American and Latino performers.  Your guided tour of the Apollo Theatre will connect the past to the present and to the future and reveal significant contributions of African-Americans and Latinos to the birth of global popular culture.  It is educational, informative, entertaining and inspiring and discloses little known facts about the theater and the legendary people who performed here.  It is the dramatic story of a proud people, an aspiring community and the rapid growth of a small idea.

BACKSTAGE ON BROADWAY

Experience behind the scenes at a Broadway show.  The Field Studies Center Theatre Programs are structured to expose your students to the excitement and hard work behind the scenes of the theatrical world.  Each program is individually created to meet your objectives and curriculum requirements.  Choose a theatre seminar workshop with a leading Broadway or off Broadway Theatre professional which may include actors, technicians, set designers and theatre critics (the theatre professional and topic are selected by the teacher).  Schedule an after theatre cast talk with a show's principal performers and/or technicians relating to the structure and running of a major Broadway show.  End your visit with tickets to the show of your choice.

BLUE MAN GROUP

Blue Man Group is best known for its wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment.  The blissful party atmosphere created at their live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience.  The performance features three bald and blue characters taking the audience through a multi-sensory experience unlike anything else.  As the company grows, it remains true to its vision of providing exciting experiences in a variety of media which appeal to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds.

BROOKLYN MUSEUM

Opened in 1897, the Brooklyn Museum is one of the premier art institutions in the world – its permanent collection includes more than two million objects.  Housed in a 560,000 square foot Beaux-Arts building, approximately 500,000 students visit the museum each year.  Its world-renowned permanent collections range from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art which represent a wide range of cultures (the exhibits collections seek to embody the rich artistic heritage of world cultures).  The Museum is part of a complex of 19th century parks and gardens that also includes Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Prospect Park Zoo.  The Museum’s programs and resources for educators introduce teachers to the Museum’s permanent and special exhibitions, offer techniques for integrating the study of art into the classroom and helps teachers from all subject areas find connections with the collections.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

CARNEGIE HALL

Built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1890, Carnegie Hall is one of the most famous and significant venues for classical as well as popular music in the United States.  It is known not just for its beauty and history but also for its acoustics.  Carnegie Hall has its own artistic programming, development and marketing departments, and presents about 100 performances each season.  Catch an insider's glimpse of Carnegie Hall by taking a guided tour.  Learn about the story of Andrew and Louise Carnegie, hear how the Hall was saved from demolition in 1960 and experience a century long performance tradition that has showcased the world's finest artists from Tchaikovsky to Mahler, from Horowitz to Callas to Bernstein, even Judy Garland and the Beatles.  Come and share in the history of America's most famous concert hall.

CENTRAL PARK

With about 25 million visitors annually, Central Park is the most visited city park in the United States and its appearance in many movies and television shows has made it among the most famous city parks in the world.  It is run by the Central Park Conservancy, a private, not-for-profit organization that manages the park under a contract with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.  The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, both of whom later created Brooklyn's Prospect Park.  While much of the park looks natural, it is in fact almost entirely landscaped and contains several artificial lakes, extensive walking trails, two ice-skating rinks, playgrounds for children, a wildlife sanctuary and grassy areas used for various sporting pursuits.  The park is also a popular oasis for migrating birds and thus is popular with bird watchers.  The six mile road circling the park is popular with joggers, bicyclists and inline skaters especially on weekends and in the evenings when automobile traffic is banned.

Central Park is one of the urban wonders of the world, a green oasis in the great concrete, high-rise landscape of New York City.  It is so naturally part of the Manhattan environment, but what every Park visitor does know is that Central Park is a haven.  It is a place where all of us can alter the frenetic rhythms that make New York the most exciting city in the world (connections with Central Park run especially deep with New Yorkers who tend to think of the Park as our own front yard).  Enjoy a guided walking tour of Central Park.  Learn about its history and design.  Enjoy its beauty and romance.  See gardens, woodlands and meadows.

CENTRAL PARK ZOO

The history of the Central Park Zoo stretches back to the 19th century.  The evolution of this city landmark launched the modern trend in urban zoos around the nation with the transformation of cages and menagerie-style zoos into natural habitat exhibits that educate, involve and connect people to our natural world.  Since the 1860's, animals could be found at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street in Central Park.  In 1864, the State Legislature authorized the city Parks Commission to establish a zoo and the more formal Central Park Menagerie was established.  In 1934, the Commissioner of Parks, Robert Moses, remodeled the Menagerie into the Central Park Zoo.  Today the Central Park Zoo attracts nearly one million students a year.  From a steamy rain forest to an icy Antarctic penguin habitat, the Zoo leads students through tropic, temperate and polar regions to encounter fascinating animals from tiny leafcutter ants to tremendous polar bears.  Year-round education classes, live animal demonstrations and innovative student programs including the Wildlife Theater, incorporate hands-on discovery and encourages all ages to learn more about our natural world and become involved in its protection.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN

For over 30 years, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been an exciting destination for students to discover new ideas and stretch their imagination.  Exhibitions at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan are created and built by a team of education specialists and designers who tour both nationally and internationally.  Based on the idea that students learn by doing, each theme-based exhibition uses hands-on activities, interactive components and larger than life environments to encourage students to explore in new ways to make learning fun.  Key observational, analytical and problem solving skills are developed through applied learning using directed experiments, exhibition exploration, open-ended art projects and more.  Activities support learning in the areas of science, math, language and the creative arts and their interdisciplinary approach to themes appeals to students with a variety of learning styles.

CIRCLE LINE SIGHTSEEING CRUISE

Students love Circle Line because they learn without even realizing it.  Knowledgeable tour guides point out New York's famous landmarks and teach them fascinating facts about New York's history.  Enjoy a relaxed and refreshing cruise as you discover the secrets of the city.  You'll circumnavigate Manhattan Island and see three rivers, seven major bridges, five boroughs, over 25 world-renowned landmarks and, of course, a magnificent close-up of the Statue of Liberty.  Enjoy magnificent views of the world's premier skyline.  Beverages, snacks and souvenirs are available to purchase on board.

ELLIS ISLAND & IMMIGRATION MUSEUM

Ellis Island, now a 27-acre site located off the southern tip of Manhattan Island, is likely to connect with more of the American population than any other location in the country.  It is estimated that nearly half of all Americans today can trace their family history to at least one person who passed through the Port of New York at Ellis Island.  Nearly a century since the peak years of immigration, Ellis Island is one of the most popular student destinations in the National Park Service.  The museum is located in the Main Building of the former immigration complex and tells the moving tales of the 12 million immigrants who entered America through the golden door of Ellis Island.  The Museum’s self-guided exhibits chronicle Ellis Island’s role in immigration history and include artifacts, photographs, prints, videos, interactive displays, oral histories and temporary exhibits.  A special feature of the Ellis Island Museum is the Wall of Honor which overlooks the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline and is the longest wall of names in the world.  This unique display contains names of more than 600,000 brave men and women who risked everything to come to America.  Students can end their tour by viewing the American Family Immigration History Center, an exciting interactive exhibit.  Students can access the passenger records of the ships that landed some 22 million immigrants, crew members and other passengers at the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924.  More than 100 million Americans may find records of their family’s beginnings in the new world here.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING OBSERVATORY

The Empire State Building is cemented in both New York and United States history.  Built during the Depression, the building was the center of a competition between Walter Chrysler (Chrysler Corporation) and John Jakob Raskob (creator of General Motors) to see who could build the tallest building.  From the time the construction began on March 17, 1930, the building's steel frame rose at an average rate of four and a half floors per week.  To speed construction, the building's posts, beams, windows and window frames were made in factories and put together on site.  Sixty thousand tons of steel was brought in from the steel mills in Pennsylvania (310 miles away) by train, barges and trucks.  By October 3, 1930, there were 88 floors finished and only 14 to go.  These top floors took the form of a distinctive tower of glass, steel and aluminum.  The 86th floor Observatory (1,050 feet), reached by high speed automatic elevators, has both a glass-enclosed area which is heated in winter and cooled in summer, and spacious outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building.  Once students have reached this point, they will have a spectacular 360-degree view of the Big Apple and the metropolitan area.

FEDERAL HALL NATIONAL MEMORIAL

26 Wall Street was the site of New York City's 18th century City Hall.  Here John Peter Zenger was jailed, tried and acquitted of libel for exposing government corruption in his newspaper, an early victory for freedom of the press.  City Hall hosted the Stamp Act Congress which assembled in October 1765 to protest ‘taxation without representation.’  After the American Revolution the Continental Congress met at City Hall and in 1787 adopted the Northwest Ordinance establishing procedures for creating new states.  When the Constitution was ratified in 1788, New York remained the national capital.  Pierre L'Enfant was commissioned to remodel City Hall for the new federal government.  The First Congress met in the new Federal Hall and wrote the Bill of Rights and George Washington was inaugurated here as President on April 30, 1789.  When the capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, the building again housed city government until 1812, at which time Federal Hall was demolished.  The current structure on the site was built as the Customs House, opening in 1842.  In 1862, Customs moved to 55 Wall Street and the building became the United States Sub-Treasury.  Now, the building serves as a museum and memorial to our first President and the beginnings of the United States of America.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK

In order to foster the safety, soundness and vitality of our economic and financial systems, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York works within the Federal Reserve System and with other public and private sector institutions to execute monetary policy.  Your tour begins by learning about the central banking functions of the Federal Reserve System through their interactive, multimedia exhibit called FedWorks.  Designed as an educational tool, FedWorks allows students to participate in monetary policy simulations and to learn about the Fed's role in the economy.  Next is the Gold Vault.  Resting 50 feet below sea level, on the solid bedrock of Manhattan Island, the Fed’s vault contains billions of dollars worth of gold.  Learn about the history of gold and find out about the unique role of the New York Fed in storing and safeguarding the precious metal.  End your tour with the History of Money.  This exhibit, co-sponsored by the American Numismatic Society, marks the first time that the Society's most valuable coins and medals have been brought together for the public to view.  On display at the Fed are more than 800 examples from the Society's noted collection of one million forms of currency and spanning three millennia of history.

FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM

Nestled in the heart of New York's financial district, the historic 18th century Fraunces Tavern, along with four adjacent 19th century buildings, houses a fine museum that is dedicated to the study and interpretation of early American history and culture.  When New York was the Capital City, Fraunces Tavern housed the Departments of Foreign Affairs, the Treasury and War from 1785 to 1787.  George Washington delivered his famous farewell to his officers here.  Today the Museum offers changing exhibitions such as the former title, The Changing Image of George Washington and Wall Street: Changing Fortunes.  Each exhibit focuses on some unique aspect of American history, delivering a presentation that shows students the past as they have not seen it before.  Among the period room displays is the Long Room (the site of Washington's Farewell Address).  This and other rooms give students a glimpse of what life must have been like in those exciting times.  School Programs consist of thematic guided tours including Taverns as Centers of 18th century American Life.  From meeting place to post office to entertainment center, taverns played an important part in society in the 18th century.

FRICK COLLECTION & MANSION

A visit to the Frick Collection evokes the splendor and tranquility of a time gone by and at the same time testifies to how great art collections can still inspire students today.  Housed in the New York mansion built by Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919), one of America’s most successful coke and steel industrialists, are masterpieces of Western painting, sculpture and decorative art displayed in a serene and intimate setting.  Each of 16 galleries offers a unique presentation of works of art arranged for the most part without regard to period or national origin.  Both the Mansion and the works in it serve as a monument to one of America's greatest art collectors.  The Frick Collection’s educational programs seek to increase access to works of art in the Collection for students and teachers.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

GRAND CENTRAL STATION

Imagine Park Avenue from 45th to 49th Street as a rail yard – a corridor of smoke and cinders extending uptown from 49th Street.  Think of breweries and factories operating where the Waldorf-Astoria, Lever House and the Seagram Building now stand.  Picture to the east a district of tenements, warehouses and slaughterhouses.  In place of the United Nations, the squatters’ shacks of Dutch Hill, inhabited by paupers, criminal gangs and a herd of goats.  It is hard to conceive that this cityscape ever existed, let alone that it was the environment in which Grand Central Terminal took shape less than 100 years ago.  Completely restored back to its 1913 splendor, Grand Central has become a midtown destination for exquisite restaurants, casual international eateries, gourmet foods and unique specialty shops throughout the concourses, all in addition to transportation.  Grand Central has also transformed itself into a venue for ongoing public events and has become an international example of a successful urban project that gave new life to an historic building which otherwise would have been discarded and destroyed.  While Grand Central Terminal stands today as one of New York City’s most famous landmarks, it was by no means the first railroad station in New York City.  In fact, the current structure is neither the first to claim the name ‘Grand Central’ or to occupy the present location at 42nd and Park.  Yet, the story that will be told by your guide of Grand Central Terminal allows students to gaze back and observe much of the history of the City of New York and to witness the growth and expansion of a vibrant metropolis reflected in an unrivaled monument of civic architecture.

INTREPID SEA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

One of the most successful ships in United States history is now a National Historic Landmark and one of the most unique attractions in New York City.  In 1943 the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier was commissioned for service in World War II and went on to serve as a primary recovery vessel for NASA and then in Vietnam.  Today the Museum features a range of interactive exhibits and events that make Intrepid a snapshot of heroism, education and excitement.  Students and teachers alike find themselves immersed and inspired by the Intrepid Museum’s exhibits, which range from thrilling historical re-creations such as Kamikaze: Day of Darkness, Day of Light, to relevant displays such as Defending our Future.  While here, students can also ride in the A-6 Cockpit Simulator, visit the Virtual Flight Zone or tour the inside of the world’s fastest commercial airplane, the Concorde.

LINCOLN CENTER

Lincoln Center is the world’s leading performing arts center.  Located on 16.3 acres, the Lincoln Center complex is comprised of 12 resident organizations.  They include (i) the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, Inc., (ii) the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, (iii) the Film Society of Lincoln Center, (iv) Jazz at Lincoln Center, (v) the Julliard School, (vi) Lincoln Center Theatre, (vii) the Metropolitan Opera, (viii) New York City Ballet, (ix) New York City Opera, (x) New York Philharmonic, (xi) the New York Library for the Performing Arts and (xii) the School of American Ballet.  Together, these institutions present thousands of performances, educational programs and other events each year in 22 separate performance venues on the Lincoln Center campus.

Since Lincoln Center first opened its doors it has been a major contributor to New York City’s cultural and intellectual life with an internationally recognized dedication to artistic excellence.  Perhaps less apparent is the extent to which Lincoln Center serves as a dynamic economic engine for the region hosting some five million visitors annually and transforming the Upper West Side into an exciting neighborhood that is now one of New York’s most desirable places in which to live and work.  Enjoy a production of your choice or experience a guided tour of one of their spectacular theatres featuring the New York State Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall, the Metropolitan Opera House or the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.  You may even catch a glimpse of a live rehearsal in progress.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often referred to simply as ‘the Met,’ is one of the world's largest and most important art museums.  It is located on the eastern edge of Central Park in Manhattan.  The Met's permanent collection contains more than two million works of art from around the world.  The collection's holdings range from treasures of classical antiquity like those represented in its Greek and Cypriot galleries to paintings and sculptures from nearly all the European masters to an extensive collection of American art.  The collection also contains extensive holdings of Egyptian, African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, Byzantine and Islamic art.  An encyclopedic collection of musical instruments from all over the world is also on view as are a number of recreations of notable interiors including one by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  The Department of Arms and Armor displays a collection of antique weapons and armor from around the world, primarily Europe, but also Japan, the United States and the Middle East with extensive holdings from other cultures and periods.  Students and teachers may explore the collection with a ‘Met’ staff member who will lead discussions and exercises designed to encourage critical thinking in response to original works of art.

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE

The Museum of American Finance is the nation's only independent public museum dedicated to celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and the democratic free market tradition which has made New York City the financial capital of the world.  Founded in 1988, the Museum was chartered as an educational institution.  Today, financial education is at the core of the Museum’s mission and its public programs and services and occupies the former home of the Bank of New York, founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1784.  Items from the permanent collection include ticker tape from the Crash of 1929, a working model stock ticker, the earliest photograph of Wall Street and documents and artifacts tracing the development of the financial markets.  An active national level advocate on behalf of the growing financial literacy movement, the Museum is committed to helping students look to the lessons of American financial history while taking charge of their own financial lives.

MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE

Created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust, the Museum of Jewish Heritage honors those who died by celebrating their lives, cherishing the traditions that they embraced, examining their achievements and their faith and affirming the vibrant worldwide Jewish community that is their legacy today.  Through collections and testimony, the core exhibition invites students to look back through Jewish history and ahead to the future (the Museum is devoted to the exploration of Jewish heritage and a living memorial to the Holocaust).  It depicts in detail the lives and communities that shaped Jewish culture in the early part of the century and the sense of determination and courage that shaped the renewal of Jewish life after the war.  The Museum differs from other institutions of memory by telling the story of the Holocaust from the perspective of those who experienced it.  The personal objects and photographs that illustrate the story of 20th century Jewish history are at home in a venue for memory and learning which also offers musical and theatrical performances, lively lectures and debates, thought-provoking films and special events for students of all ages.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

The Museum of Modern Art houses one of the world’s most prestigious modern and contemporary art collections.  In 2004, after decades of expansion and renovation, the Museum opened an extensive new facility on the original Midtown site.  The Museum is best known for its extensive collection of modern paintings and sculptures and is regarded as the leading museum of modern art in the world.  The Museum is also complementary to and sometimes considered a sister museum to the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art, although the latter is a general art museum, where modern art is only one area of specialization.

Visit the Museum of Modern Art and find a vast assortment of drawings, photographs, architecture and design pieces and theatres featuring daily film programs.  With elegantly displayed works by artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh and Warhol and an active schedule of exhibitions and educational programs, the Museum of Modern Art continues to attract modern art enthusiasts as well as students seeking an edgy cultural experience.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

George Gustav Heye (1874–1957), a wealthy New Yorker, was a collector of objects made by indigenous peoples of North, Central and South America.  His collection became part of the Smithsonian in 1989 when Congress passed the National Museum of the American Indian Act creating a new museum.  The George Gustav Heye Center (GGHC), located in lower Manhattan, serves as an exhibition and education facility in New York City.  Exhibitions and public programs explore the diversity of the Native peoples of the Americas and the strength and continuity of their cultures from the earliest times to the present.  Take a journey through time and back again.  Go to far off lands and Native villages from the Arctic tundra to steamy tropical rainforests.  Follow a footpath to the deep canyon floor and push through lush green woodlands.  Visit with people whose communities ring with celebrations of song, dance, feasting and honor…it is all here.  Come, take part in the many exciting activities, events and programs offered, including films by and about Native people, cultural demonstrations, dance performances, storytelling, doll making, woodcarving and much more.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

NBC EXPERIENCE STORE & STUDIO TOUR

It's a ‘must see’ experience! Located at Rockefeller Center, the NBC Experience Store brings you an innovative retail attraction with interactive features, a Sweet Shop and DVD Café.  Next enjoy a guided tour of the famous NBC studios.  Since 1933, NBC has offered this historic tour that takes you through the halls and into the studios of NBC's New York operations.  An NBC Page will be your guide to the world of the Peacock Network (some NBC Pages have gone on to become famous entertainment personalities, including Ted Koppel, Regis Philbin, Michael Eisner and Dave Garroway).  The first stop on the tour is the NBC/ Sharp History Theatre where you will learn about NBC's early days in radio.  Your NBC Page will also tell you about some of the network's early sound effect techniques and NBC's transition into television.  After learning about NBC's past, you will have the opportunity to enter and visit some of their most famous studios including: Studio 1A (home of the Today Show), Studio 3A (home of Dateline NBC), Studio 3C (home of NBC Nightly News), Studio 6A (home of Late Night with Conan O'Brien), Studio 8G (home of Football Night in America) and Studio 8H (home of Saturday Night Live).  The 20,000 square foot facility is a one-stop visit into the world of NBC.

NEW YORK AQUARIUM

As the only aquarium in New York City and part of the largest network of metropolitan wildlife parks in the country, the New York Aquarium holds a special place in the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society – to save wildlife and wild places around the globe.  The Aquarium is driven by a vision of a world where people understand the critical role the oceans play in human survival and the sensitivity of aquatic resources.  Their educational programs strive to encourage students to place a high personal priority on the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems and the rich diversity of aquatic wildlife which they sustain.  With exhibits featuring over 8,000 animals, the Aquarium offers diversity, superb viewing and world-renowned scientific expertise that assures a rewarding experience and the knowledge that students can make a difference in the ocean world around them.  Learn about animals living as far away as the Southwest coast of Africa and the Arctic to those found locally in the Hudson River.  Whether you're getting wrapped up in the tentacles of jellies in their Alien Stingers exhibit, being awe-struck by walruses in the rocky coastline of Sea Cliffs or cheering on California sea lions duringtheir Aquatheater presentations, you're always close to some of the world's most amazing wildlife.

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

A grand museum of plants.  A place to relax, rejuvenate and experience the wonders of nature.  A worldwide leader in studying the Earth’s plant life.  The New York Botanical Garden is all of these things and a great deal more.  Founded in 1891, the Garden is one of the world’s great collections of plants, the region’s leading educational center for gardening and horticulture and an international center for plant research.  The Garden is alive with opportunities for discovery from an ‘ecotour’ of the world in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to an innovative indoor/outdoor science museum for students to 50 exquisite gardens and plant collections, all on a 250-acre National Historic Landmark site in New York City’s Bronx borough.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE

The Hall of Science is a laboratory for your Science classes.  As your students play and explore they will be introduced to new phenomena and ideas, and they will experience familiar concepts in brand new ways.  Interactive hands-on with exhibits such as the Giant Lever in their Science Playground and the video camera-enhanced Ant Colony in their Connections exhibition will help students build a richer understanding of Science and Math concepts that they have already been exposed to in the classroom.   The Hall features more than 400 hands-on exhibits.  Visit the New York Hall of Science and explore the wonder and excitement of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

America's most popular entertainers have thrilled audiences at Radio City Music Hall since its doors opened December 27, 1932.  Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett to mention only a few of the celebrities and luminaries to grace the Great Stage.  Radio City Music Hall completed a seven month $70 million restoration in 1999.  From the famed marquee to the seats and the ceilings to the carpets, the restoration returned Radio City Music Hall to its famed glory.  Following the lead of Radio City's experienced tour guides, explore the beautiful art-deco interiors and learn the secrets of the Great Stage – one of the largest indoor performance stages in the world (the stage's hydraulic system has been in operation since the 1930s).  As an exciting climax to the Stage Door Tour, students will meet one of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER

Discover the stories behind the creation of Rockefeller Center.  A Rockefeller Center Historian will be your guide as you travel through the buildings, gardens and spaces that make up this wondrous ‘city within a city.’  Your group will unveil the treasured, historical and inspiring stories that only the world-renowned Rockefeller Center has to offer from John D. Rockefeller's true vision of what the center should be to what it is today.  There is a story for each floor that has been built, a story for each amazing Art Deco work of art and a story for students of all ages.  Students will be treated to an uninterrupted account of this marvel as they follow along with his/her own personal headset.  This closed circuit connection to the tour guide makes this tour unique amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City and Rockefeller Center.  This is the best view of Rockefeller Center from the ground up.

SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

Founded in 1937, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a modern art museum located on the Upper East Side and is often called simply the Guggenheim.  Originally called the ‘Museum of Non-Objective Painting,’ the Guggenheim was founded to showcase avant-garde art by early modernists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian.  It moved to its present location, at the corners of 89th Street and Fifth Avenue (overlooking Central Park), in 1959 when Frank Lloyd Wright's design for the site was completed.  The distinctive building, Wright's last major work, instantly polarized architecture critics though today it is widely revered.  From the street the building looks like a white ribbon curled into a cylindrical stack, slightly wider at the top than the bottom.  Its appearance is in sharp contrast to the more typically boxy Manhattan buildings that surround it.  Internally, the viewing gallery forms a gentle spiral from the ground level up to the top of the building.  Paintings are displayed along the walls of the spiral and also in viewing rooms found at stages along the way.  Program offerings are designed to engage students in observation, discussion and interpretation of works of art.  Tours can be adapted to curriculum, as well as for special-needs students.

SOUTH STREET SEAPORT & MUSEUM

When they say ‘the City’ they mean New York.  And when they say ‘not-to-be-missed’ they mean South Street Seaport.  A thriving community complete with a world-class maritime museum, breathtaking views and more than 100 shops, cafés and restaurants.  This renovated American landmark is on Lower Manhattan's historic waterfront.  And the shopping, dining and entertainment are front and center.  When you visit the South Street Seaport Museum, the exhibits in their galleries and on their historic ships are just the beginning of a fantastic voyage back in time.  The Museum is located on the site of what was once this country's leading port and is now a 12 square-block historic district in lower Manhattan.  South Street provides students with an unforgettable glimpse into a past where 18th and 19th century buildings line stone-paved streets and sea-laden breezes blow off the Hudson.

STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT

Located on a 12-acre island, the Statue of Liberty enlightening the world was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.  The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.  Guided or self-guided tours are available.

TRIBUTE WTC 9/11 VISITOR CENTER (GROUND ZERO)

Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers students to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the September 11th community.  Through a guided walking tour, exhibits and programs, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers ‘person to person history,’ linking students who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.  Students will be led by guides who will share their personal experiences from Ground Zero.  Groups will be guided around the WTC site and through the Tribute Center.  During the tour, students also conduct their own mini-research project.  By interacting with primary source materials (oral histories, images and artifacts) students will investigate the experiences of neighborhood residents, photojournalists, office workers, firefighters, policemen, EMS workers and volunteers during the recovery period.  Experience the personal stories, images and artifacts that reveal the events of 9/11.

TRINITY CHURCH – ST. PAUL’S CHAPEL

When the present Trinity Church was consecrated on Ascension Day May 1, 1846, its soaring Neo-Gothic spire, surmounted by a gilded cross, dominated the skyline of lower Manhattan.  Trinity was a welcoming beacon for ships sailing into New York Harbor and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The original burial ground at Trinity Church includes the graves and memorials of many historic figures including Alexander Hamilton, William Bradford, Robert Fulton and Albert Gallatin.  Located directly across from the World Trade Center site, St. Paul's Chapel, part of the Parish of Trinity Church, was home to an extraordinary eight month volunteer relief effort after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  Unwavering Spirit, an interactive exhibit, honors the rich history of Trinity Church – St. Paul’s Chapel.

UNITED NATIONS

The Headquarters of the World Organization is located on an 18-acre site on the East side of Manhattan.  It is an international zone belonging to all Member States.  The United Nations has its own security force, fire department and postal administration.  Visitors from all over the world often like to send postcards back home with United Nations stamps – these stamps can only be mailed from the United Nations.  The Headquarters consist of four main buildings: (i) the General Assembly building, (ii) the Conference Building, (iii) the 39-floor Secretariat building and (iv) the Dag Hammarskjold Library which was added in 1961.  The complex was designed by an international team of 11 architects, led by Wallace K. Harrison from the United States.  Enjoy a guided tour as an international staff docent explains the work of the United Nations and its related organizations while taking students to some of the main Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall.  The tour also features art and other objects of interest donated by Member States.  The United Nations postal counter where students can buy UN stamps, a UN book store, gift shop and a coffee shop are also available.

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